MONUMENT NO. 196528

Excavations in 1950 uncovered a 4th century winged courtyard villa with a Mosaic, Tesselated floors and Painted Wall Plaster overlying a 2nd century building. Later 4th/5th century occupation indicated by a Corn Drying Oven and Child burials.

Remains of a winged corridor villa with possible courtyard, was discovered in 1950 during the laying of a water main in Great Mead (O.S.23), some 300 yds. W. of the Fosse Way at Ilchester. It was excavated from 1954-7 under the direction of L.C. Hayward. The main building, of 4th cent. date, was 300' east to west with wings projecting 120 ft. to the south. A 2nd cent. building was found beneath the villa and there was a later building overlying the verandah and courtyard. Two channels interpreted as flues of corn-drying kilns had been inserted in the floor of the principal room of the villa and the final phase of occupation with two associated child burials extended into the 5th cent. There were a number of tessellated floors: painted wall plaster, coins, pottery including samian, spindle and bone pins were among the finds. (2-5)

This building cannot be identified on the ground but it can be sited from Mr. Hayward's excavation plan to ST 51202212. Mr. Hayward proved the east wing by excavations in 1965 and further work is proposed for 1967. He still has the majority of the finds but a representative selection has been given to Yeovil Museum and to Yeovil School. (6)

Work during 1967-9 has revealed the existence of buildings on the southern and western sides of the courtyard. The S. building with its tessellated floors and painted wall plaster dates from the late 3rd.c., and after the mid 4th.c. was converted into workshops for the farm, including a smithy. (7)

Altogether six rooms have now been revealed in the W. wing of the villa, two with patches of tessellated floors in situ. Coin finds were mostly 4th.c. (8)

Another room was found in the W wing in 1972 and contained a mosaic with scallop shells and dolphins in the pattern; the centre of the mosaic had been destroyed. (9)